Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

SNCF, the French state-owned railway network, are reintroducing some classic old-fashioned trains, under the brand name Ouigo, which will mean longer travel times but cheaper tickets and a novelty passenger experience.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bar Elba to Greenwich Park, where are the best vantage points to get panoramic views of London for free?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations but France is continuing with its travel ban from the UK unless you're a French citizen. Initially put in place as Omicron spread rapidly in the UK, the variant has now reached everywhere across the globe, including France - so is the blunt instrument of travel bans dead or are we seeing more political motivations afoot?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been 24hrs since the news that UK travellers will have less stringent testing requirements coming in and out of the country. But what do they actually require us to do? Simon Calder looks at the government's plans and picks his way through so you won't find yourself getting stung before or after the changes are implemented.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take you through the UK government's announcement that from 4am on Friday, international travel is about to become a lot less burdensome. That's right, those of us who are double vaccinated will no long have to take pre-departure Covid tests. They will also not be required to self-isolate while awaiting tests. I'll tell you what that means in practical terms and where restrictions may still be.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take a look at the state of UK air travel following the disastrous past two years for the aviation industry. While some countries and airlines have pulled themselves out of the fire, the UK's reliance on cheap flights to myriad destinations has meant it is taking longer to recover from the effects of the pandemic. The situation has not been helped by the Omicron variant either, meaning that the start of 2022 is looking very turbulent indeed for UK air companies.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the new normal for air travel look like? I speak with aviation luminary Tim Jeans, former MD of Monarch and chairman of Newquay airport, to find out what he thinks will happen in the aviation industry and how we'll all adapt to flying after the pandemic.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I take a look at the milestones and anniversaries coming our way in January.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southern Railways has announced today that because of staff illness and isolation periods, it will not have any services travelling into London Victoria until the 10th January. I take a look at the announcement and how it's a problem repeated across the country at the moment due to Omicron's spread. Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan. Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone. I wonder what Christina Rossetti would have made of the state of the world today if she had been able to see it. Earth may not be stood hard as iron, but it is certainly at something of a standstill. With the wave of of Omicron variant, travel at this time of year has become very tricky indeed. So, will it return any time soon?Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.